SRC-MWN S.B. 158 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 158
By: Truan
Education
6/5/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their classes are eligible
for automatic admission to any state-supported institution of higher
education. Additionally, programs to provide financial aid and counseling
are available. However, the special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and
Universities found that many schools fail to provide counseling to inform
students and their parents of such educational opportunities and the
standards that must be met to qualify for assistance. S.B.158 requires
certain schools and open-enrollment charter schools to provide counseling
regarding the importance of higher education, the advantages for completing
the recommended or advanced high school program, financial aid eligibility,
how to apply for federal financial aid, acquiring access to the center for
financial aid information, the automatic admission of students who graduate
in the top 10 percent of their class, and conditions for receiving a Texas
Grant. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education
in SECTION 3 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 33A, Education Code, by adding Section 33.007,
as follows: 

Sec. 33.007.  COUNSELING REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION.  Requires each
counselor at an elementary, middle, or junior high school, including an
open-enrollment charter school offering those grades, to advise students
and their parents or guardians  regarding the importance of higher
education, preparation coursework for higher education, and financial aid
availability and requirements.  Requires a counselor, during the first
school year a student is enrolled in a high school or at the high-school
level in an open-enrollment charter school, and again during a student's
senior year to provide information about higher education to the student
and students' parent or guardian. Requires the information to include
information regarding certain criteria.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 33.001, Education Code, by  providing that this
subchapter applies only to a school district that receives funds as
provided by Section 42.152(i), except that Section 33.007 applies to all
school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. 

SECTION 3.  Makes Section 33.007, Education Code, as added by this Act,
applicable beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.  Requires the
commissioner of education to adopt rules regarding the provision of
counseling regarding higher education as required by Section 33.007(b),
Education Code, as added by this Act, to high school students or
open-enrollment charter schools other than those for whom the 2001-2002
school year is the first or senior year of high school. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.